Inscription

in calligraphy in a style consistent with Wanli in a horizontal white reserve panel under the lip in dark, vivid underglaze cobalt blue: Da Ming Wanli nian zhi (made in the Wanli reign of the great Ming Dynasty)

Technical Summary

The white porcelain body is covered with an emerald green glaze. Joint
lines show prominently at the base of the neck and at mid-body, and faint
indications of joints are visible at the waist
and at mid-neck 1. The
interior appears to have an opaque white glaze, as does the base, which is
slightly recessed. The beveled low foot is unglazed and rough. There is an
adhesion scar on the shoulder from crowding in the kiln, and some glaze
skips are found on the mane of the dragon to the right of the inscription.
The glaze is slightly streaked, with some dark flecks and a few blue drips.
There are evanescent indications of the former all-over gold surface
decoration in the form of iridescent marks caused by changes in surface
gloss. Some traces of gold remain in small depressions.

1. Hajime Kato, a Japanese ceramist famous
for his technical virtuosity,
examined this piece in 1957. He noted that the piece is made from molds in
five sections. He commented further that, contrary to some published
descriptions, the design was not incised under the glaze, but had been
painted in gold that has since worn off, and that the adhesive from the
gold is what remains to be seen (conversation with the author, 27 August
1963, in NGA curatorial files).